HAZARDOUS MATERIAL CHARACTERIZATION TO SUPPORT COMMERCIAL NUCLEARREACTOR D&D PLANNING

摘要

An area often overlooked in planning decommissioning services for a comme rcial nuclear utility is the areaof hazardous materials and waste. Under contract from Northeast Utilities (NU) System Millstone NuclearPower Plant, Safety and Ecology Corporation (SEC) performed a hazardous materials characterization ofMillstone Unit 1 (U-1). Sample collection and analysis procedures were based on information provided bythe utility during the pre-bid process, on information gathered through review of drawings and othermaterial, on information gathered through interviews of Millstone personnel during the start of on-siteoperations, and on information gathered through actual plant walk-downs. Samples were analyzed with theultimate goal of classifying the materials at Millstone as hazardous or non-hazardous, based on ResourceConservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations specified in 40 CFR 261. Special regulationsdescribed in the Connecticut General Statutes were also employed in characterizing the materials ofMillstone Unit 1. These special regulations govern waste oil, waste chemical fluids, contaminated soils,asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).A number of different types of components and systems were sampled based on the components’ orsystems’ potential to contain a hazardous material. The various systems and/or components that weresampled included: painted and/or sealed surfaces for lead and/or PCBs; building and structural componentsfor asbestos containing material; sumps, tanks, pumps, motors, bearings, heating, ventilation and airconditioning (HVAC) components, etc. for potentially hazardous materials (RCRA characteristics);lubricants, greases and oils; transformers for potentially hazardous oils (PCBs); and soils for potentiallyhazardous characteristics, hydrocarbons, PCBs and heavy metals. Additional items that are already knownto be hazardous such as mercury-vapor lights, fluorescent lights and lead acid batteries were inventoried.All chemical, radiological, and asbestos samples were analyzed by a qualified off-site laboratory. Anumber of field analyses were performed. An X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) unit was used to detect lead inpainted surfaces and field test kits were used to screen soils for potential hydrocarbon and PCBcontamination. The XRF and field test kits produced immediate, reliable results, eliminating analysis timeand expense. The field testing instruments also focused intrusive sampling on areas where contaminationwas confirmed to be present.The results of the characterization will be used by the decommissioning operations contractors (DOCs) toprepare cost estimates for the decommissioning of the Unit 1 site. The information gathered and reportedduring this investigation will allow the DOCs to more accurately predict waste streams and waste volumes,identify potential dis posal options, and develop their technical approaches during the bidding process.